Biochar has potential to draw down atmospheric carbon when applied to agricultural soils (as discussed in my previous article on this topic). There is currently not a robust way for farmers…
In a recent study, Jim Amonette at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources developed an improved method to estimate the technical potential for biochar…
Whatcom County is in the northwest corner of Washington State and has a rich history of agricultural production. This region is the top producer of processed red raspberries in the U.S., with product shipped globally. The area also has an active dairy industry, with over 45,000 dairy cows (USDA NASS, 2017). There has been…
Guest Post By Athena Loos, Field Representative, McCain Foods – During the 3.5 years that I have worked with growers in my role as a Field Representative with McCain Foods, I have met numerous growers who are playing an active role in exploring the biological component of soil health. (Growers generally have a good understanding of the chemical and physical characteristics of our soils.) One of my graduate projects was focused on soil health in the Columbia Basin, which allowed me to gain knowledge on this topic and have these discussions w…
A frequently used—at least, by soil scientists—definition for soil health is “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system to sustain biological productivity, maintain the quality of air and water…
Biochar has the potential to sequester carbon and improve the properties of soils when used as an agricultural amendment. However, biochar will only be a viable option for carbon sequestration if there are uses and…
Picture this future scenario: it’s a hot summer day and you are sitting with some friends on their deck enjoying a cold beverage. You notice they recently replaced their deck and, interested, you ask about the decking material they used, only to find out that it’s made partially out of . . . manure from dairy cows! Surprised? Work done by researchers at Washington State University…
Wheat residue on field near Ritzville, Washington, which is part of the a grain-fallow cropping system. (Photo: D. Kilgore) In non-irrigated areas that are too dry to support annual cropping, fallow (the practice of leaving…
Biochar as a soil amendment has been the subject of much attention in recent years because of its ability to sequester carbon and to improve aggregation, water holding capacity, and organic matter content of soil…
Karen Hills and CSANR Associate Director, Georgine Yorgey co-wrote this post. Dryland areas are historically used for wheat production. Photo: USDA, ARS. Across the dryland areas of the inland Pacific Northwest, soil erosion and the…